Vehicle lighting unit

Abstract

A vehicle lighting unit can form a structure or mechanism for positioning and installing a light emitting device in a vehicle lighting unit main body.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A vehicle lighting unit comprising:
 a light emitting device disposed below a predetermined light source position and having an excitation light source, a wavelength conversion member disposed at a position spaced away from and above the excitation light source, a condensing lens disposed between the excitation light source and the wavelength conversion member, and a holder configured to hold the excitation light source, the wavelength conversion member, and the condensing lens; 
 a supporting member configured to support the light emitting device so as to allow the light emitting device to move horizontally; 
 a first fixing member configured to fix the light emitting device and the supporting member together in a state where the wavelength conversion member is disposed on a vertical axis passing through the predetermined light source position; 
 a vertical guiding member in surface contact with the supporting member and having a vertical guiding face to allow the supporting member to vertically slide in a state where the supporting member is in surface contact with the vertical guiding member; 
 a stopper configured to restrict vertical movement of the supporting member with respect to the vertical guiding member, thereby positioning the wavelength conversion member in the predetermined light source position; 
 a second fixing member configured to fix the supporting member and the vertical guiding member together in a state where the light emitting device is in contact with the stopper and the supporting member is in surface contact with the vertical guiding face; and 
 a vehicle lighting unit main body configured to project light emitted from the light emitting device disposed below the predetermined light source position in a forward direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat dissipation member fixed to the supporting member and configured to dissipate heat generated from the excitation light source, and wherein
 the vehicle lighting unit main body includes a holding member having a through hole formed therein for allowing the holder to be fit to the through hole at its upper end. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the excitation light source is a semiconductor laser light source. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the excitation light source is a semiconductor laser light source. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the excitation light source is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes a flange located on the light emitting device and a through hole located in the vehicle lighting unit main body. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fixing member and second fixing member are screws that mate with tapped holes. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting member includes a supporting main body with tapped holes therein, and the light emitting device includes a flange with through holes therein that allow for screws to pass through such that the supporting member is configured to support the light emitting device so as to allow the light emitting device to move horizontally. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical guiding member includes at least two substantially parallel rails spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, and the supporting member includes a base portion with a center step portion configured to fit within and contact each of the two rails of the vertical guiding member. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle lighting unit, comprising:
 a light emitting device including an excitation light source, a wavelength conversion member adjacent the excitation light source, and at least one holder configured to hold the excitation light source and the wavelength conversion member; 
 a positioning mechanism for positioning the light emitting device, the positioning mechanism including a supporting member configured to support the light emitting device, the supporting member including a base portion and a supporting main body, the positioning mechanism including at least one vertical guiding member located adjacent to the supporting member; and 
 a main body that includes at least one reflector surface and an aperture into which the light emitting device is configured to be inserted, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured such that the light emitting device is slidable in a vertical direction between a first position in which the light emitting device is inserted in the aperture of the main body and a second position in which the light emitting device is spaced from the aperture of the main body, 
 wherein the positioning mechanism includes at least two substantially parallel rails spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, and further includes a center step portion located on the base portion and configured to fit within and contact each of the substantially parallel rails, wherein the light emitting device is attached to the base portion and is therefore vertically slidable with respect to the parallel rails and with respect to the main body. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 10 , further comprising a heat dissipation member fixed to the positioning mechanism and configured to dissipate heat generated from the excitation light source. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the excitation light source is a semiconductor laser light source. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the excitation light source is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the light emitting device includes a flange located above the excitation light source, and the flange is configured to mate with the aperture located in the main body to stop vertical movement of the light emitting device with respect to the main body. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 10 , further comprising a fixing member configured to lock the light emitting device with respect to the main body when the light emitting device is located in the aperture of the main body. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle lighting unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the main body is attached to the parallel rails and includes a projection lens.